Domestic appliance



May 30, 1950 s. c. PEAhcE noams'nc npumca 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 briginalFiled Jan. 5, 1945 FIG. 2

May 30, 1950 a. c. PEARCE DOMESTIC APPLIANCE 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 OriginalFiled Jan. 5, 1945 V (@{iibNTOR M Y W FIC.5

y 1950 e. c. PEARCE 2,509,989

noms'nc APPLIANCE Original Filed Jan. 5, 1945 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 72 i I il J I I l E 60 it? 45 $5 H I I I L1: l Q

I l 2 5' m f 1 I m c y 1950 G. c. PEARCE 2,509,989

DOIIESTIC APPLIANCE Original Filed Jan. 5, 1945 5 Sheets-Sheet FIQBlllllllllllllllllll IIII'III'I/II'V'I'" za 23b FIG. I3

Patented Ml] 30, 1950 DOMESTIC APPLIANCE George C. Pearce, Dayton, Ohio,assignor to General Motors Corporation, Dayton, Ohio, a corporatlon ofDelaware Original application January 5, 1945, Serial No. 571,404.Divided and this application March 16, 1948, Serial No. 15,077

15 Claims.

This invention relates to domestic appliances and more particularly toelectric ranges or the like.

This application is a division of my copending application S. N.571,404, iiled January 5, 1945, Patent Number 2,486,873, grantedNovember 1, 1949, for Domestic appliance.

An object of this invention is to provide an oven of a domestic range orthe like with a simplified thermostatic control.

Another object of this invention is to provide an oven thermostaticcontrol in which the upper and lower heaters of theoven are controlledby three pairs of thermostatically actuatedcontacts in such a mannerthat both oven heaters may be turned on at full capacity for preheat,the upper alone at full capacity for broil, the lower heater at fullcapacity and upper heater at reduced output for bake, and all heaterspositively turned oil. when no energization is desired.

Another object of this invention is to provide an oven thermostaticcontrol in which the power lines may be connected to make and breakmechanism without the necessity of providing flexing wires.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparentfrom the following description, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings, wherein a preferred form is clearly shown.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of the thermostatic control;

control with the rear cover ii and the rear insulating sheet l2 removed;

Fig. 6 is a cross-section taken along the line 4-6 of Figs. 1, 3 and 5;

Fig. 7 is a diagrammatic cross-section, on reduced scale, showing thethermostatic control connected to the oven, in the oil position;

Fig. 8 is an elevation of a portion of Fig. 5, diagrammaticallyconnected to the oven circuit in the broil position;

Fig. 9 is a diagrammatic cross-section taken along the line 9-9 of Fig.8 also showing the circuit in broil position;

Fig. 10 is a view similar to Fig. 9 but showing the circuit in preheatposition;

Fig. 11 is a view similar to Fig. 9 but showing the circuit in bakeposition;

Fig. 12 is a view, somewhat similar to a portion of Fig. 8, showing theparts in preheat position;

Fig. 13 is a view similar to Fig. 12 showing the parts in bake position;and

Fig. 14 is a top view of the thermostatic control as shown in Fig. "I.

My invention includes an oven (Fig. '7) and a thermostatic control 2|for the oven. The oven 20 is provided with a lower heater 22 and with anupper heater consisting of sections 23 and 24, the sections 23 and 24being uniformly distributed over the top of the oven. The heater 22 isevenly distributed over the bottom of the oven, and, if desired may havea baffle over it, not shown, such as disclosed at in the patent to F. H.McCormick 2,314,592. The upper and lower heaters may have the generalconstruction shown in said McCormick patent, it being understood thatthe upper heater has its wires in two sections as diagrammaticallyillustrated in this application.

The thermostatic control 2| includes a bulb 25 placed in the oven, andconnected by a tube 26 to the expansible diaphragm 21. The diaphragm 21opens and closes the switch contacts 28, 29 and 30 (Figs. 5-13) inresponse to temperature conditions as more fully hereinafter described.

The thermostatic control 21 has a movable plate l0 (Fig. 1, 6, 14) hnged to a metal casing or box i 3 by means of the bolts M. The casing i3and plate ill have a spring tension tending to spread them away fromeach other at 14. The casing i3 and plate Ill thus form, in effect,first and second relatively movable plates. The knob I5 is mounted onshaft i6, which has a lefthanded threaded engagement at I! with bushingi3 fixed in casing l3 and an axial thrust (to the left in Fig. 6) at I8against the face of plate Iii. Thus this threaded engagement provides arotary cam axial thrust means to move the plate It) and box l3 to andfrom each other. Turning of the knob l5 fulcrums the plate l0 about thebolts l4. When the shaft i8 is threaded into casin lit, by acounterclockwise turning of knob IS, an axial thrust results at it whichswings the plate l0 toward casing i5 against its inherent spring action.When the shaft 16 is unthreaded at IT, by the turning of knob I5clockwise, the shaft it releases some of its thrust at l8 and allows theplate iii to swing away from casing II, the fulcrum being at l4.

" perature at which the contacts open and close to correspond with thetemperature at the top of the knob. When the knob is turned to the "of!"position (Fig. 1), the plate in and diaphragm 21 are moved so far to theleft (Fig. '7) that the diaphragm cannot collapse sufllciently to closethe contacts regardless of the temperature in the oven.

The diaphragm 21 opens and closes the mov able contacts 28, 29 and 30 inresponse to oven temperatures by mechanism more fully to be described.As the diaphragm expands in response to rise in oven temperature thecontacts 28, 29 and 30 open substantially at the temperature indicatedby the knob l5 thus turning of! the heaters in the oven. As thetemperature in the oven falls slightly, the diaphragm contractssufllciently to close the contacts 28, 29 and 30 thus re-energizing theheaters to heat the oven. The oven is therefore maintained substantiallyat the temperature selected by the turning of knob I5.

The movable switch contacts 28, 29 and 30 (Figs. 5, 9-11) are pairedwith stationary switch contacts 28', 29' and 30 carried by bars 3|, 32and 33 respectively. These bars are connected to the lines 34, 35 and 36respectively leading to the heaters, the connection being made throughthe usual line eyelets and screw-threaded connectors 3|, 32' and 33respectively. Contacts 28, 29 and 30, which are permanently connected tolines L1 and L2, are operated in a manner to energize the bars Si, 32and 33, lines 34, 35 and 38 and heaters 22, 23 and 24 as more fully tobe described.

The line 34 is connected to one terminal 23a of the section 23 and oneterminal 22a of heater 22. 24b of heater 24 and to terminal 23b ofheater 23. The line 36 is connected to terminal 22?) of heater 22. Theterminal 24a of heater 24 is connected to the grounded line 31.

The section 23 is of such resistance that its maximum capacity forglowing red heat is obtained when it is connected between the live linesL1 and L2, which provide the maximum voltage. The section 24 is of suchresistance that it produces its glowing red heat when connected betweenL: and the grounded or neutral line 37. The heater 22 is of suchresistance that it produces its glowing red heat when connected betweenL1 and L2.

To produce broiling conditions in the upper heater, section 23 isconnected between L1 and L2 and section 24 is connected between groundedline 31 and L2 as shown in Fig. 9. Both sections 23 and 24 glow redunder broil conditions. For preheat conditions, sections 23 and 24 areconnected as in broil, and heater 22 is connected between L1 and L2, thepreheat connection being shown in Fig. 10. All three sections 22, 23 and24 glow red under preheat conditions. For baking, sections 23 and. 24are connected in series The line 35 is connected to one terminal betweenL1 and grounded line 31 to operate at a materially reduced wattage,while heater 22 is connected between L1 and L2. The bake circuit isillustrated in Fig. 11. Heater 22 glows red and sections 23 and 24 areblack hot under bake conditions. When operating in the broil and preheatpositions, section 23 may have a capacity of 2000 watts, while section24 may have a capacity of 1000 watts. When operating in the bakeposition sections 23 and 24 may have a combined capacity of 235 watts.Heater 22 may have a capacity of 2000 watts. These figures are given byway of illustration'for use in the ordinary domestic oven. such asillustrated in the said McCormick patent.

The foregoing brief description shows that the oven heaters arecontrolled by three pairs of thermostatically opened and closed contacts28-28', 29-29 and 30- 30. These contacts are the only ones required toobtain the necessary energization of the oven heaters.

The power lines L1 and L1 are permanently connected to the movablecontacts 28, 29 and II by a novel construction. The line L1 is connectedto power connector bar 41 by the line eyelet and screw construction 41'(Figs. 2, 5). The bar 41 is in turn connected to a sheet metal conductorwhich produces a snap opening and closing movement of contact 28. Thissheet metal conductor includes a bridge portion 40 (Fig. 8), an innerleg portion 4| (to which the bar 41 is connected permanently) and twoouter leg portions 42 and 43 which are carried by the bridge portion 40and are joined at 44 (Fig. 9) to carry the movable contact 28. Currentcan therefore flow from the line L1 through 41, 4|, 40, 42 and 43 to thecontact 28. The upper portion of the central inner leg 4] is anchored toa stationary insulating frame 46 by a rivet construction 45 (Fig. 2)passing through a portion of the frame 46 and which is connected to theinput bar 41.

The line L: is connected to power connector bar 56 by the line eyeletand screw construction 58' (Fig. 5). The bar 59 in turn is connectedthrough rivet 45' to a sheet metal conductor somewhat similar to the oneJust described; but which has an extension 40" (Fig. 8), so that itenergizes both of the contacts 29 and 30. The line L: is connected,through bar 56, to the inner central leg 4i, which in turn is connectedto the bridge 40' and the two outer leg portions 42' and 43' which arejoined to carry the movable contact 29. The sheet metal conductor 40',4|, 92' and 43' is substantially the same in construction and operationas the conductor 40, 4|, 42 and 133. In addition, the bridge 40' has anextension 40" to a fourth leg 48 which carries the movable contact 30and then bends slightly backward (see Fig. 4), so that its end 49 may beengaged by the cam 50 to hold the contact 30 away from the contact 30'during the broil position. The fourth leg 48 tends to snap in the samedirection as the legs 42 and 43, except when held open by the cam 50.

The bridges 40 and 40' are embedded in an insulating bar 5| which issupported on a metal outer bridge bar 52, so that the bridges 40 and 40'operate in unison with the bars 5| and 52 (Figs. 4, 6, 8). A tensionspring 53 is connected to the metal bar 52 by T-shaped member 54, thespring 53 extending to a bolt 55 at the top of the casing i3. Thetension spring 53 places the legs 4i and H in compression betweenbridges 40, 40' and rivets 45 and 45', and, as the spring 53 is movedlaterally by the thermostat, the contacts 28, 29

aooaoao and 30 snap in the opposite direction to the lateral movement ofthe spring 53. The contacts 20, 29 and 30 tend to snap in unison underthe impulse of the thermostatic element unless their operation ismodified ashereinafter described in the broil and bake positions.

Lateral movement of the spring 53 by the diaphragm 21 is accomplishedthrough the medium of a lever 60 (Fig. 6). The lever 60 is mounted on aleaf spring which is riveted at B2 to the top oi casing I3, and isriveted at 63 to the lever 60. The spring 8| biases the lever 60 to theright, in Fig. 6, against the extension 64 of the diaphragm 21.Expansion of the diaphragm 2'I swings the lever 50 to the left, Fig. 6,and contraction of the diaphragm 2! permits the lever to be moved to theright, Fig. 6, by the spring 5|. The lower end of the lever 80 is formedinto a protuberance 65 which can push against the side of the spring 53.The spring 53 is in such alignment between the bolt 55 and the T-shapedmember 54 so that it normally swings the leg 4| to the right, in Fig. 6,thus maintaining the contacts 28, 29 and 30 normally closed. However,when the lever 50 is moved to the left, in Fig. 6, the protuberance 65engages the side of the spring 53 at point 55, and in effect,establishes a sub-spring between the point 65 and the T-shaped member 54(see Fig. 7). As the protuberance 65 swings to the left a suilicientdistance, the leg 4| is normally biased to the left in Fig. 6, thusopening the contacts 28, 29 and 30 with a snap action. The open positionis shown in Fig. 7, while the closed position is shown in Fi 6.

The lever 60 preferably is a V-shaped channel member (Figs. 5, 6) havingmarginal flanges 51 extending for a portion of its vertical length. Atits upper end, at the corners 68, the lever 80 bears against a fulcrumbar 59 which has cars 10 (Fig. 2) at each end riveted at H to the casingI3. The lever 60 thus fulcrums about the points I2 of the fulcrum bar59, which points I2 are located to engage the corners 68 of the bar 50.Thus sharp fulcrums are provided for the lever 60,

. which permits sharp calibration of the snapping point.

In the broil position, as shown in Figs. 4 and 9, the movable contact 30is positively held open away from the stationary contact 30'. This isaccomplished by movement of a circular cam 50 carried by a lever "I3(Figs. 4, 8-13), which is fulcrumed on the shaft I4, which extendsthrough the insulating block 46 and easing I3 and is attached to thelever located between the plate I0 and the casing I3. The lever 15 isnormally pulled clockwise, in Fig. 3, by a tension spring I6 anchored tothe plate 11, which is welded to the casing I3. This normally urges thelever I3 counterclockwise in Figs.3, 8, 12 and 13, which tends to movethe cam 50 away from engagement with the end 49 of the leg 48. However,the knob shaft I6 is connected to a disk 80 (Fig. 3) having a pin 8|,which comes into engagement with the lever I5 when the knob I5 is in thebroil position shown in Fig. 3. This swings the lever 15counterclockwise in Fig. 3, thus swinging the lever I3 clockwise inFigs. 5 and 8. This causes the lower edge of the cam 50 to engage theend 49 and swing the leg 48 and contact 30 away from the stationarycontact 30'. This opens the contact 30, while the contacts 28 and 29 areclosed by the threaded movement of the shaft l6 (Fig. 6) and itsconsequent action through the diaphragm 21 and lever 60 on the spring 53and the bridge bars 52, 5| and 40. Thus the circuit shown in Ill) ingthe knob I5 clockwise to the broil position (Fig. l) and thencounterclockwise to some selected temperature, such as 300. While theknob is in the broil position, the lever 13 is in the position shown inFigs. 4 and 8. The lever 13 has a curved extension 90 which carries apin 9|. This pin engages the leg 92 of a mica insulator sheet 93, whichis fulcrumed at 94 on bar 33, and moves the end 95 of the insulator 93from between the contacts 29 and 29 and allows them to close as shown inFigs. 9 and 10. When the knob is turned counterclockwise to the 300position, from the broil position (Fig. 1), the lever 13 is pulled tothe position shown in Figs. 12 and 13 by the action of the spring I6(Fig. 3) and lever I5 which has been released by the movement of the pin8| away from the lever 15. The end 95 (Figs. 12, 13) of the micainsulator sheet 93 then rests, by gravity, just above the contacts 29and 29 in readiness to drop in between them when the contacts 29 and 29'are separated by thermostatic action when the oven reaches a temperatureof 300. Thus the oven is preheated by the circuit shown in Fig. 10 untilthe oven reaches the 300 temperature. During this time the upper heatersections 23 and 24 and heater 22 glow red at a 2000, 1000 and 2000 wattrate respectively.

In the baking-position (Figs. 11, 13), the end 95 of the insulator 93 isbetween the contacts 29 and 29', thus breaking the connection between L:and line 35. Current in the upper heater therefore must fiow from L1through 34, 23a, 23, 35, 24 and neutral line 31. These sections then areheated at a black heat, for example by a current of 235 watts. At thesame time the lower heater 22 glows red, current passing through it fromline L1 to Le, the current being of 2000 watts. When the lever I3 is inthe position shown in Figs. 12 and 13, the cam is moved away from theend 49 of the leg 48 a sufficient distance so that the leg 49 ispermitted to close the contact 30 against the contact 30' in the preheatand bake positions, thus energizing the lower heater 22 between L1 andL2.

The knob I5 (Fig. 6) may be calibrated with regard to the shaft I6, inorder that the proper temperature may be produced to correspond with themarkings on the knob. To this end the disk I 00 is welded or otherwisefixed to the shaft I5, and is provided with arc-shaped slots at IN. Ahub I 02, journaled on plate I0, is loosely mounted on the shaft I6, butcan be rigidly secured thereto by tightening the screws I03. Thus, byloosening the screws I03, a relative rotational movement between thedisks I00 and I02 can be obtained for calibrating the knob I5. The diskI00 carries an extension finger I04, which extends into the slot I05 inthe knob I5, so that the knob l5 can only be placed on the shaft in aposition corresponding to finger I04. In this manner calibration of theknob I5 can be obtained.

The hub I02 carries the disk 80, and, when finally calibrated, the diskis rotated whenever the knob I5 is rotated through the action of screwsI03 when they are tightened.

There are several miscellaneous structural parts which may be used forconvenience as shown in the drawings, but which may be varied, as isevident. Thus the insulating block 45 (Figs. 2, 4, I

5, 6) is box-like in its construction. The bars 3|,

32 and 33 (Fig. 5) may be riveted against the edge of block 43 by therivets H0. The bars 41 and 36 are secured to an inner portion of theblock 46 by rivets |II (Figs. 2, 5), 46 and 46'. The block 46 is securedto the casing I3 by screws 2 (Figs. 3-6). An insulating sheet l2 (Figs.2, 4, 6) can be placed over the entire face of block 46, and a cover Ilmay then be telescoped over the casing I3, and may be secured thereto byany suitable screw construction, not shown. Preferably the plate I(Figs. 1, 4, 6, '7, 14) is channelshaped, and the casing I3 also ischannel-shaped. with its upper end closed. An insulating strip I21(Figs. 4, 5, 6) is held between the block 43 and the bars 3|, 32 and 33to prevent accidental shorting of bars 3|, 32 and 33 by the bar 52.

If desired, a spring I20 (Figs. 3, 14) may be wound around the pin |2|,which is carried by the plate I0. This spring I20 has a curved portionI22 so shaped-that it allows the pin 3| to ride over it as the knob I isbeing turned nearly to the off" position, the pin 8| reaching theposition 3|, in Fig. 3, when the knob is in the oil position. As the pin3| rides into this position the spring I22 imparts to the operator thesense that the correct 011" position is reached. An L- shaped plate I23is riveted to the plate I0 and is provided with slots to receive theends I24 and I26 of the spring I20. The plate I23 also has an extensionI26 which forms a positive stop for the pin 8|, and prevents the knob I6from being turned counterclockwise beyond the "off" position orclockwise beyond the broil position. I

The thermostatic assembly may be mounted on a panel of the range bymeans of screws which may be threaded into bushings I23 (Figs. 1, 6).

In the operation of the device, when the knob I6 is in the off"position, the shaft I3 (Fig. '7) has been threaded into the bushing l3of easing I3 a sufllcient distance so that the diaphragm 21 andextension 64 have swung the lever 60 to the position shown in Fig. 7.This biases the central legs 4| and 4| (Fig. 8) sufliciently to snapthem to the left as in Fig. 7, thus opening all three contacts 28, 23and 30. Regardless of the temperature of the oven, these contacts remainopen as long as the knob remains in the oil? position. Should the userdesire to perform a broiling operation, the knob I5 is turned clockwiseto the broil position (Fig. 1). This unthreads the shaft I6 (Figs. 6, 7)from the bushing I3 a sumcient distance to swing the plate I0 the properdistance away from the casing I3. This allows the lever 60 to swing theproper distance from the spring 53 to maintain all of the contacts 28,23

and 30 (Figs. 8, 9) in closed position as long as the temperature of theoven remains below about 600. However, contact 30 is prevented fromclosing since at the same time, rotation of the knob I5 has moved thepin 8| into engagement with the lever 15 and has moved it to theposition shown in Fig. 3. This in turn, through the shaft I4, swings thelever 73 to the position shown in Figs. 5, 8 and 9. This causes the cam50 to separate the contacts 30 and 30', and causes the pin 3| to swingthe mica insulator sheet 33, so that its point 35 is moved from betweenthe contacts 23 and 23', allowing them to close. The broil circuit shownin Fig. 9 is then established, and the upper heater sections 23 and 24are energized at their maximum capacity to glow red and produce abroiling action.

Should the user desire to preheat the oven in anticipation of performinga baking operation at 300, he first moves the knob I3 to broil position(Fig. 1) establishing the circuits Just described in the precedingparagraph, and then moves the knob to the 300 position. This lattermovement moves the pin 3| (Fig. 3) away from the lever '13 and allowsthe spring 13 to swing the lever 13, shaft 14 and lever 13 to theposition shown in Fig. 12. This causes the cam to be moved away from theleg ,43 enough to allow the contacts 30 and 30' to close, and allows thepoint 33 of the insulator 33 to rest on top of the closed contacts 23and 23' in readiness to drop in between them when the oven reaches 300,when the thermostat opens all of the contacts 23, 23 and 30. When thecontacts are so opened, the point 35 of insulator 33 drops in betweenthe contacts 23 and 29', so that, when the thermostat again attempts toclose the contacts 23, 23 and 30, due to the cooling oil of the oven,the contact 23 is prevented from closing on contact 23. Thereafter thethermostat cycles the heaters on and of! with the circuit shown in Fig.11. Under these conditions sections 23 and 24 are in series between L1and neutral line 31 to produce a black heat while energized with a 235watt current while heater 22 is cycled between L1 and L2 to produce aglowing red heat at a wattage of 2000.

While certain wattages have been given, by way of example, and certainstructural details have been described with more or less minuteness. itis understood that such details and wattages can be varied within thescope of the claims which follow.

What is claimed is as follows:

1. In combination: a stationary contact; a movable contact: an integralsheet metal member having a bridge portion, a central inner flexible legportion supported at one end by a flxed support and carrying at itsother end said bridge portion, and two outer leg portions carried bysaid bridge portion and joined to carry said movable contact; and springmeans placing said inner leg portionin compression to impart a snapaction to said central inner flexible leg portion.

2. In combination: a stationary contact; a. mov-- his contact; anintegral sheet metal member having a bridge portion, a central innerflexible leg portion supported at one end by a fixed support andcarrying at its other end said bridge portion, and two outer legportions carried by said bridge portion and joined to carry said movablecontact, spring'means placing said inner leg portion in compression toimpart a snap action to said central inner flexible leg portion; andthermostatic means moving said spring means laterally of said bridgeportion to impart snap opening and closing movements to said movablecontact.

3. In combination: a stationary contact; a, movable contact; an integralsheet metal member having a bridge portion, a central inner flexible legportion supported at one end by a fixed support and carrying at itsother end said bridge portion, and two outer leg portions carried bysaid bridge portion and joined to carry said movable contact, springmeans placing said inner leg portion in compression to impart a snapaction to said central inner flexible leg portion; and thermostaticmeans moving said spring means laterally of said bridge portion toimpart snap opening and closing movements to said movable contact, saidthermostatic means including a thermostatically rocked lever in contactwith said spring means.

4. In combination: a pair or stationary conaaoacao 9 tacts; a pair ofmovable contacts to engage said stationary contacts; a pair 01' sheetmetal members each having integrally connected bridge portion, a centralinner flexible le portion supported at one end by a fixed support andcarrying at its other end said bridge portion, and two outer legportions carried by said bridge portion and joined to carry one of saidmovable contacts respectively; an insulating bar carrying said bridgeportions; and spring means connected to said bar and impartingcompression on said inner leg portions to impart a snap action to saidcentral inner flexible leg portions.

5. In combination: a pair of stationary contacts; a pair of movablecontacts to engage said stationary contacts; a pair of sheet metalmembers each having integrally connected a bridge portion, a centralinner flexible leg portion supported at one end by a fixed support andcarrying at its other end said bridge portion, and two outer legportions carried by said bridge p rtion and joined to carry One of saidmovable contacts respectively; an insulating bar carrying said bridgeportions; spring means connected to said bar and imparting compressionon said inner leg portions to impart a snap action to said central innerflexible leg portion, and thermostatic means laterally moving saidspring means to impart opening and closing snap movements to saidmovable contacts.

6. In combination: a pair of stationary contacts; a pair of movablecontacts to engage said stationary contacts; a pair of sheet metalconductors each having integrally connected a bridge portion, a centralinner flexible leg portion carried by said bridge portion and two outerleg portions carried by said bridge portion and joined to carry one ofsaid movable contacts respectively; an insulating bar carrying saidbridge portions; spring means connected to said bar and impartingcompression on said inner leg portions to impart a snap action to saidcentral inner fiexible leg portions; thermostatic means laterally movingsaid spring means to impart opening and closing snap movements to saidmovable contacts; and an auxiliary flexibly mounted third movablecontact in conducting relation to and movable simultaneously with one ofsaid first named movable contacts.

7. In combination: an insulating frame having a central switch space; arigid conducting bar spanning said space and carrying a stationarycontact; a movable contact cooperating with said stationary contact; anintegral sheet metal conductor having a bridge portion, a central innerflexible leg portion connected at one end to said bridge portion andsupported at the other end by a stationary connector carried by saidinsulating frame, and two outer leg portions carried by said bridgeportion and joined to carry said movable contact; and spring meansplacing said inner leg portion in compression to impart a snap action tosaid central inner flexible leg portion.

8. In combination: an insulating frame having a central switch space; arigid conducting bar spanning said space and carrying a, stationarycontact; a movable contact cooperating with said stationary contact; anintegral sheet metal conductor having a bridge portion, a. central innerflexible leg portion connected at one end to said bridge portion andsupported at the other end by a stationary connector carried by saidinsulating frame, and two outer leg portions carried by said bridgeportion and joined to carry said movable contact; spring means placingsaid inner leg portion in compression to impart a .snap action to saidcentral inner flexible leg portion; and thermostatic means moving saidspring means laterally of said bridge portion to impart snap opening andclosing movements to said contacts.

9. In combination: a stationary contact; a movable contact; an integralsheet metal current conductor having a bridge portion, a central innerflexible leg portion supported at one end by a fixed support and currentconnector and carrying at its other end said bridge portion, and twoouter leg portions carried by said bridge portion at one end and joiningto carry said movable contact; and spring means connected to said bridgeportion and placing said inner leg portion in compression to impart asnap action to said central inner flexible leg portion.

10. In combination: a stationary contact; a movable contact; an integralsheet metal current conductor having a first named leg portion supportedat one end by a fixed support and current connector and being connectedat its other end to one end of a second named leg portion which carriessaid movable contact at its other end; and a tension spring placing saidfirst named leg portion under compression to impart a snap action tosaid first named leg portion.

11. In combination: a pair of stationary contacts; a pair of movablecontacts to engage said stationary contacts; a pair of sheet metalconductors each having integrally connected a bridge portion, a centralinner flexible leg portion carried by said bridge portion and two outerleg portions carried by said bridge portion and joined to carry one ofsaid movable contacts respectively; an insulating bar carry n saidbridge portions; spring means connected to said bar and impartingcompression on said inner leg portions to impart a snap action to saidcentral inner fiexible leg portions; thermostatic means laterally movingsaid spring means to impart opening and closing snap movements to saidmovable contacts;

an auxiliary flexibly mounted third movable con-- tact in conductingrelation to and movable simultaneously with one of said first namedmovable contacts; an auxiliary third stationary contact cooperating withsaid third movable contact, first locking means to lock said thirdcontacts apart, second locking means to lock one of said pair of movablecontacts in open position, and common actuating means for said first andsecond locking means.

12. In combination: a pair of supporting first and second platesrelatively movably secured together; a snap switch and rotary cam axialthrust means on said first plate; a thermostatic-diaphragm and anadjusting knob on said second plate; said diaphragm having operativeengagement with said snap switch, and said knob having rotary engagementwith said rotary cam axial thrust means, whereby temperature settingsare obtained by the turning of said knob.

13. In combination: a pair of supporting first and second platesrelatively movably secured together; a snap switch and rotary cam axialthrust means on said first plate; a thermostatic diaphragm, an adjustingknob and a knob rod on said second plate; said diaphragm havingoperative engagement with said snap switch, said knob rod being axiallyfixed, but rotatably held on said second plate and having rotaryengagement with said rotary cam axial thrust means, and said knob beingrotatably adjustable on said knob rod, whereby relative rotation betweensaid knob and 1 rod provides calibration and relative rotation be- 11tween said rod and rotary cam axial thrust means by operation of saidknob provides temperature settings for said switch.

iLIn combination: a pair of supporting first and second plates hingedtogether near one end; a snap switch and rotary cam axial thrust meanson said first plate; a thermostatic diaphragm near the unhinged end 01'said second plate having operative engagement with said snap switch; and

an adjusting knob on said second plate having :0

means in rotary engagement with said rotary cam axial thrust meanswhereby temperature settings areobtained by the turning of said knob.

15. In combination: a pair of supporting first and second plates hingedtogether near one end; a snap switch and rotary cam axial thrust meanson said first plate; a thermostatic diaphragm near the unhinged end ofsaid second plate havin: operative engagement with said snap switch;

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record inthe file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,480,394 Johnson Jan. 8, 19242,209,767 Dillman July 30, 194p

